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NBA: Houston Rockets come back, beat Oklahoma City Thunder

Associated Press

Posted:
02/20/2013 09:05:59 PM PST

Updated:
02/20/2013 11:38:34 PM PST

James Harden finally beat his former team on Wednesday night.

It took the best game of his career to get it done.

Harden scored a career-high 46 points and former Palo Alto High star Jeremy Lin added 29 as the host Houston Rockets mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback for a 122-119 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"I just told the guys on the court that we've got to do whatever it takes, we've got to get some stops together and make some shots," Harden said. "It's not going to be easy, they're a very good team. But we got some stops at the right time and guys made good shots."

Houston was down by 14 points with about seven minutes left. The Rockets used a 21-4 run to erase the deficit and take a 114-111 lead with 1:46 remaining. Harden stepped back under heavy pressure from Serge Ibaka to sink a 3 to tie it, before Lin connected on one seconds later to give the Rockets their first lead of the second half.

Harden, traded from Oklahoma City to Houston before the season, made a bucket before Ibaka made two free throws. Then came another 3 by Lin to extend the lead to 119-113.

A 3-pointer by Russell Westbrook got Oklahoma City within three points, but Lin made one of two free throws to secure the win.

Thabo Sefolosha led the Thunder with 28 points and had six 3-pointers, both career highs.

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Westbrook also scored 28 points and added 10 rebounds and eight assists. Kevin Durant had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his second career triple-double.

Lakers 113, Celtics 99: Dwight Howard had 24 points and 12 rebounds in helping the Lakers to an emotional victory over visiting Boston in their first game since the death of owner Jerry Buss.

Kobe Bryant added 16 points, Steve Nash and Earl Clark had 14 apiece, and Metta World Peace 12 in a game that surely would have delighted Buss, who always loved to win but especially liked beating the Celtics.

Buss was remembered in a pregame video tribute featuring photos of him as a child all the way through his hoisting trophies marking the team's 10 NBA championships won under his ownership. Bryant fittingly spoke on behalf of the Lakers' players, having been acquired by the Lakers as a 17-year-old.

"He was a brilliant, incredible owner but an even better person," Bryant said of Buss. "His innovation transcended the game and we are all, all spoiled by his vision and his drive to win year after year after year."

Pacers 125, Knicks 91: Paul George scored 27 points and host Indiana powered its way closer to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference by beating New York.

Heat 103, Hawks 90: Miami scored the first 13 points of the fourth quarter to erase Atlanta's 10-point lead and the Heat, led by LeBron James' 24 points, beat the host Hawks to extend its season-best winning streak to eight games.

Nets 97, Bucks 94: Deron Williams scored 23 points and Brooklyn escaped with a win at Milwaukee after Monta Ellis missed a chance to tie the game with three foul shots in the final seconds.

Cavaliers 105, Hornets 100: Kyrie Irving scored 20 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter to lead Cleveland to a win over visiting New Orleans.

Also Wednesday, the Rockets reached an agreement to send forward Marcus Morris to Phoenix for a future second-round pick, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that trade had not been announced, pending league approval.

Patterson, Aldrich and Douglas walked out of the Toyota Center just as Houston was starting its game against Oklahoma City.